Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-04

, TEXAS. FRIDAY, MAI
old lady whose looks did not at all re-
semble those of the stereotyped witch Of
literature. She did not live in a hut
among the mountains, and there was
nothing u1canny or diabolical in her &C
tons and surroundings. She lived in
town with one of her mar
RED children, was amiable and
very neighborly, and altogether the
most effective help in cases OF sickness
and at births and funerals. There was 10
end to her knowledge of medicinal herbs
and oid.fashioned remedies, consisting of
teas, pouluces, ointments, etc. But ner
fame rested chiefly on her success in
powwowing. In all ordinary cases of
aches and pains, Grandmother Harper
was ABOUT as frequently summoned as
the doctor; and | assure you that when
she brought her natural and supernatural
remedies and charms to bear on cold,
sick headache, rheumatism, felon or
qulnsy, she generally came of victorious.
| remember she cured d sister of mine
of bad qainsy by prescribing, in addl-
ton to the poWwow, the binding OF 3 live
toad on the neck at night, not to be re-
moved till morning. Il took 4 deal of
persuasion to gain the girls consent 10
try the repulslve remedy-ugh! bah.-
but it was st last successfully done.
Next morning the toad was dead, and
with his bstrschian spirit the quinsy had
hoped away also. Three things are
essential to successful pOwwOwing: %.
The charm must be learned from one of
the opposite sex. %. The patient must
have faith in the pUWWowing. g.. No
fee must be charged. \ favorite remark
at performance is: lone must also be-
lieVe; faith makes blessed"
OCCULT CURES.
Among occult cures are: For warts
steal a small piece of bacon rind from Il
nelghLOr, rub the warts with it, and bury
ii where the rain drops from the caves :,
or, prick the warts with pin and SINH
larry bury the pin; or, rub the warts win
an old LETT shoe, and throw it away where
you will never lind it again. For feloG
Hold firmly in your right hand three mo.es
successfully until eacn is dead; your hand
will then have the power to cure y felOn
on any other hand by holding
bAlS ILuiLuCb AuSCl 1Ol siHHllS. OlGC.l
and Omens are still looked for and super
stitiJusly regarded. A comet pOrtends
war. War may also be expected when
children are given to playing "sOidier."
Rocking the empty cradle is injurious to
the child. Do not twirI chair on one Of
its legs; it will cause strife in the family.
If q hen Of yours lays very small egg,
called the "unluCky" egg, you will have
a calamity in your observation-disclosures
or death-unlesS you take that egg and
throw it clean over your house Coward
the east, if l remember rightly.
A growing hen means mischief, aua
should be beheaded without delay. The
mOurnful hOwiing OF dogs at nignJ is re-
garded as bad sign-death is abroad.
avoid having thirteen persons at table
it is an unlucky number. Fritay, of
cCuTs' =, is On unlucky day-esgecially
Good Friday-aId no journey should
be begun or marriage celebrated on
that day, If the housewife lets her dish
rag f4ll she Wlll have visitors the same
day II you take piece OF bread III
table while you still have an uneaten
piece ct your plate, it means that some
hungry person will soon call. A per
si>tent mass OF bubbles in your cup of
coffee is q sign that you Will soon be the
recipient OF sum of money-the more
bubbles the more money. Stumble with
your right foot when cut calling and you
will be welcomed; with your left, not.
When the cat washes her face expect com
pany the same also portends rain. Msny
of these omens are now held to waver-
Ingly, and attention is called to them with
the smile Of half belief. The rising gem
Grafton laugh at them all and call them
"Alter VIEWER glaawe" (old womeh's
belief.
TIE MAGICAL WITCHUAZEL.
But occasionally rural barefoot boy
is met with who, when hunting his stray
COW, will catch "gran' daddy long legs"
and pull at one of his legs, whereupon he
of the lengthy eXtre mites will raise one
of his other legs and point it in the direc-
ton of the missing cow, and the boy will
start in that direction with hopeful alac-
rity. The magical witch. hazel is still
employed in prospecting for precious
metals, aud especially for underground
water. ia my native town the water is
conducted in wooden pipes two
miles from clear mountain brook
When he water stops flowing from the
Old-fsShiGGed town pumps the water
master is at once notified, and he, with
several others, starts out with picks and
shovels TO locate tPe place OF leakage. If
this cannot ne found, an old worthy fire.
queutlF comes to the rescue with the
famous OWNING rod. With forked twig
of wltCh-hszeI lightly balanced in MS
hand he starts from the waterless pump
and slowly traces back the course of the
pipes. At the point of
leakage the water will strongly attract
the witcG-hszel, whereupon the posse
with picks and shovels dig up the spot,
tiud the rotten or bar5t pipe END replace
it with new section.